Book Review: One More Day of Us

By Sara Steven

1990: In a hot, humid Hong Kong summer, three young singers are loving life, performing to packed crowds every night in a swanky hotel bar. Twenty-three-year-old Scottish songbird, Moira Chiles is living the dream alongside Carina Lloyd and Lisa Dixon. They work hard, play hard, and always stick together… until one day Moira has to make a choice that changes everything.

Fast forward to…

2025: In a wet, chilly, Glasgow summer, Moira has just retired after singing in Glasgow pubs and Caribbean cruise ships for three decades. Now she’s ready for a new adventure – one that takes her to Hong Kong to revisit a world she left behind. Moira hasn’t seen Carina or Lisa for over thirty years, but will an invitation to join her on a holiday of a lifetime rekindle the friendships that changed her life? Or will stepping back in time expose secrets that could break their hearts? (Synopsis courtesy of Goodreads.)

I first learned about Moira in One Day and Forever (reviewed here), another book by Shari Low. Moira appeared to be a very magnetic character, so I’m so glad her background story has been provided and fleshed out even more in One More Day of Us. I knew that Moira was a singer and enjoyed entertaining, but had no idea that her roots started in Hong Kong as a tribute singer with two of her closest friends. I loved the concept of a reunion between Moira, Carina and Lisa, particularly after a long thirty year hiatus, and it was great to get the throwbacks to their experiences in the 90s, then back to the present, so we can see what sort of evolution each character has had over the past three decades.

There is a pretty big twist right from the get go, pertaining to Lisa. It sets the tone and pace going forward. Then there’s a huge revelation for Carina, too, which I kind of saw coming but had wished it hadn’t and wouldn’t. There is a lot of purpose and reason behind the reunion trip to Hong Kong, with everyone in attendance looking for ways to reconnect and find who they were when they were younger and felt more carefree, when the demands of life seemed to be so much more simplistic. It was also sweet to see a few romantic connections, particularly for Moira, who had left someone behind in Hong Kong and doesn’t know if finding that kind of love again could even be achievable. 

Throughout the book, there are a few nods to Moira’s present life with her son, Ollie, who is also in One Day and Forever. I felt like those scenes provided a little grounding, especially when it seems as though Moira has her head in the clouds by way of revisiting her youthful haunts–a really nice sentiment, but through Ollie, she doesn’t forget the life she’s lived and who she is. It was also nice to see the evolution that Carina has. She’s always felt like she has to live up to certain expectations that have been placed on her, but in Hong Kong, she finds her voice. There is the introduction of Stevie, Lisa’s daughter, and it was a nice viewpoint to show the juxtaposition between who Moira and Carina knew Lisa to be, and how Stevie views Lisa.

I appreciated the long lasting friendship connections the most. I love when friendships can last decades or a lifetime, and I really felt that for all three women, and Stevie, too. It was a five-star experience!   

Thanks to Rachel's Random Resources for the book in exchange for an honest review.

Purchase Links:
Amazon US * Amazon UK * Kobo

Shari Low is the multi-million copy bestselling author of over 30 novels, including the #1 bestsellers One Day with You and One Midnight with You.

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We're 15!!! (And we're celebrating with a book giveaway.)

Back in May of 2010, Melissa started CLC and it's been an amazing 15-year ride ever since. She started the journey with Melissa S (known as Melissa P at the time), who took time off and is now back as a reviewer. Since then, she has built a great review team, with people who have come and gone, as well as those who have stuck around for many years, and someone who joined more recently. During that time Sara teamed up with Melissa to keep things running smoothly. They've even been writing column posts for the past five years or so. 

We've had the opportunity to feature many amazing authors and novels and share the joy with our readers and followers. 

To celebrate this incredible milestone, we're doing a book giveaway. We have TWO big sets of random books to share with some lucky readers! 

How to win: Use Rafflecopter to enter the giveaway. If you have any questions, feel free to contact us. If you have trouble using Rafflecopter on our blog, enter the giveaway here. 

Giveaway ends May 4th at midnight EST. 

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Book Review: See How They Fall

By Melissa Smoot

When Skye married into the wealthy Turner family, she thought she was entering paradise. But now, several years later, she remains uneasy amid the opulence of her husband’s world, struggling with her own secrets and working to maintain a normal life for their young daughter, Tilly.

Skye’s delicate balance is undone when the family patriarch, Sir Campbell Turner, dies suddenly and an illegitimate heir comes forward to stake his claim in the luxury goods empire the old man leaves behind. Reluctantly, the Turners receive the newcomer at an intimate weekend retreat at Yallambee, the family seaside estate, but tempers flare and egos clash within their first few hours together and the night ends in a tragedy that leaves one dead and another fighting for life.

Sergeant Mei O’Connor is assigned to investigate the incident and though her superiors are keen to close the case as swiftly as possible, the evidence just isn’t lining up. Convinced that there’s more to the suspicious death than a simple accident, Mei continues to search for answers. But pulling at these threads may just tear down the Turner empire. (Synopsis courtesy of Amazon.)

For anyone who loves a good psychological thriller, run out and get this book immediately. Not only is the writing superb, but the storyline and suspense quotient are perfect. The plot of the rich family that is hiding secrets is nothing new, but this book takes it to a whole new level. I was alternatively infuriated by the gaslighting of the main character Skye by her own husband and by the misogyny that the female detective, and other main character, Mei, had to suffer. I could not figure out how this was going to end. People were disappearing, getting sick or injured, being made to look crazy, and I still could not pinpoint who the antagonists were going to turn out to be in this story. 

I truly loved this book and hope everyone gets the chance to rip through it the way that I have. I will certainly be on the lookout for the next Rachel Paris novel.

Thanks to BookSparks for the book in exchange for an honest review. Purchase See How They Fall here.

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Spotlight: Climbing in Heels

We've been hearing a lot of great buzz about Elaine Goldsmith-Thomas's debut novel, Climbing in Heels. People Magazine says it's "The Devil Wears Prada meets Sex and the City". We're excited that it's out in the world and look forward to reading it soon. 

It's the story of friendship, betrayal, survival, standing up when they pass you by, and saying I won't go when they want you gone. And it's also a story about how some of those women became very much like the monsters who trained them.

Meet Beanie Rosen, the fast-talking and even faster-thinking Valley girl who knows where she wants to go, and doesn’t care if she doesn’t look the part.

Mercedes Baxter, who learned early on how to leverage the monied friends of her monied friends' parents until she found a foothold in Hollywood.

And Ella Gaddy, a sexy free-spirit anti-debutante from a white-glove Kentucky home who shakes up any room she walks into.

Read Climbing in Heels and watch these women meet, meld, fight, strategize and climb their way into your heart.

A rollicking tale of sex, drugs, and power – in heels. (Synopsis courtesy of Amazon.)

“You won’t be able to put this delicious book down. So, grab a cup of coffee and curl up with Elaine Goldsmith-Thomas’s Climbing in Heels. You’ll be really glad you did.”
 ―Amy Ferris, author of Marrying George Clooney 

“It’s a sharply observed, brilliantly plotted, and bighearted page-turner!” 
―Laura Zigman, author of Separation Anxiety 

“It’s moving, insightful, and shows us how far we’ve come―and how far we need to go. It’s a book you won’t put down, with characters you won’t forget. I loved it!” 

―Darren Star, creator of Sex and the City and Emily in Paris

Photo from Elaine's Facebook page

Elaine Goldsmith-Thomas began her career at the William Morris Agency and rose by the late 1980’s to become the Senior Vice President of the WMA, and later the Senior Vice President of ICM, guiding the careers of, among others, Julia Roberts, Jennifer Lopez, Nicholas Cage, and Madonna. More recently, she has produced a broad, successful slate of films and television series including Maid in Manhattan, Mona Lisa Smile, Hustlers, Marry Me, Emily in Paris, The Fosters, and many others. (Bio courtesy of Amazon.) 

Visit Elaine on Instagram and Facebook.

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Spotlight and Giveaway: Hello Juliet

Introduction by Melissa Amster

We're excited to help Samantha M. Bailey celebrate the publication of her fourth suspense thriller, Hello, Juliet! I really enjoyed this one and it kept me guessing the entire time. You can find my review here. My casting choice for Ivy led me to find out that Samantha was a fan of The Sex Lives of College Girls (which is sadly not returning). So we've had fun chatting about that show recently. Speaking of TV, if you grew up enjoying teen drama shows (or watch them now as a guilty pleasure), you'll appreciate Hello, Juliet even more! Samantha has one copy to share with a lucky reader!

Ivy Westcott fled LA as her acting career imploded. In a flash, she lost her first love and chosen family―her Hello, Juliet castmates. But she never discovered who turned her closest friends against her. Now the whole world knows her as #PoisonIvy.

A decade later, Ivy is horrified when a celebrity exposé thrusts the Hello, Juliet cast back into the limelight, dredging up the old scandals she hoped to escape. Desperate for a fresh start and some financial stability for her mother and manager, Ivy agrees to participate in a top-secret reunion episode.

Ivy’s poised for a comeback, but past betrayals become a present danger when she and the man who once broke her heart find their costar dead.

Determined to find justice and clear her name, Ivy must tear down the facades of cast and crew to uncover chilling secrets that have plagued the Hollywood set from day one. Or she could be the next to die. (Synopsis courtesy of Amazon.)

“Bailey perfectly captures the hunger for fame and the desperate measures some will take to achieve it, while also delivering a story filled with twists and surprises. A top-notch, single-sitting read.” 
―Kimberly Belle, internationally bestselling author of The Paris Widow

“Hello, smash hit. Briskly paced and packed with suspense and twists, Hello, Juliet is the escape every thriller reader deserves.” 

―Jaime Lynn Hendricks, bestselling author of A Lovely Lie

“Hello, Juliet by Samantha M. Bailey is a wickedly unputdownable thriller teeming with secrets, suspense, and sly revelations. Not to be missed!” 

―Heather Gudenkauf, New York Times bestselling author of Everyone Is Watching

Credit: Dahlia Katz Photography

Samantha M. Bailey is the USA TODAY and #1 international bestselling author of WOMAN ON THE EDGE, optioned for series adaptation, WATCH OUT FOR HER, shortlisted for Canada Reads 2025, A FRIEND IN THE DARK, an Amazon Charts bestseller, and HELLO, JULIET, out April 29, 2025. Her novels have sold in twelve countries. She lives in Toronto, where she can usually be found tapping away at her computer or curled up on her couch with a book. (Bio courtesy of Samantha's website.)

Visit Samantha online:

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How to win: Use Rafflecopter to enter the giveaway. If you have any questions, feel free to contact us. If you have trouble using Rafflecopter on our blog, enter the giveaway here. 

Giveaway ends May 4th at midnight EST. 

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Book Review: Serial Killer Games

By Sara Steven

Dolores dela Cruz has been dying to spot one in the wild, and he fits the mold strangler gloves, calculated charm, dashing good looks that give a leg up in any field . . . including fields of unmarked graves.

The new office temp is definitely a serial killer.

Jake Ripper finds a welcome distraction in his combative and enigmatic new coworker. He hasn’t come across anyone as interesting as Dolores in a long time. But when mere curiosity evolves into a darkly romantic flirtation, Jake can’t help but wonder if, finally, he’s found someone who really sees him, skeletons in the closet and all.

Until Dolores asks Jake’s help to dispose of a body . . . (Synopsis courtesy of Goodreads.)

Serial Killer Games is all about how nothing is as it seems, and that’s what made it oh so fun. Even the reader buys into what is initially presented on the surface–that Jake could very well be a serial killer, and Dolores (or Dodi as she’d preferred to be called) could very well need assistance with disposing of a body. It’s hard to know for sure if those stakes are as high as we’re to believe them to be, and that uncertainty is also felt within these two primary characters, who want nothing more than to trust in each other’s first impressions. 

But it goes so much deeper than that. Beneath the surface, Dodi and Jake are harboring a lot of secrets that are exposed slowly over the course of the book, and even I felt sideswiped by some of them! It’s all in an effort of protection. Jake feels like there is a limited amount of time on his side, and Dodi has had profound loss, leading into creating much-needed distractions that will prevent them from falling in love. 

I loved the darker avenues here–the morbid curiosity and interest in subjects that would ordinarily be considered as taboo. It was fun to see that some of the supporting characters fed into that, too, particularly for Jake. While I enjoyed the whole story, my favorite part is the last third of the book, when revolutionary truths are exposed and both characters discover that even in the strange and unusual, relationships can be forged and sometimes, it’s okay to trust again. 

There is a pretty substantial event that I was shocked by, which only banded me to the characters even more. I loved the snark and banter between everyone, and it was an enjoyable darkly humorous ride the whole time! A much-deserved five-star read! 

Thanks to Berkley for the book in exchange for an honest review.

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Book Review: Intersections

By Sara Steven

Style-guru Charlotte Oakes sells beautiful lifestyles, but her mentally ill daughter is an addict, her long marriage is dead, and she is pregnant with her ex-lover’s baby. Stunned after witnessing a hit-and-run in Chicago that leaves a child dead, Charlotte thinks she sees her Prius fleeing the scene. Her troubled daughter, Libby, is the only one who could have been driving.

His partner and best friend killed in a drug bust, police officer Ed Kelly learns that forensics has found that the fatal bullet came from Ed’s gun. Under internal investigation, Ed copes by filming cars at the site of the recent hit-and-run, hoping to catch the child’s killer. There, he notices Charlotte’s pilgrimages to the makeshift memorial, and over the weeks, the two become unlikely friends sharing intimate stories. But Charlotte won’t trust him with her most vulnerable secret of her suspicions about her daughter’s involvement in the accident.

When Ed finally learns the truth about, he struggles with his beliefs and duties. If he keeps quiet, he has breached his commitment to the law. But if he does the right thing as an officer, he may send Libby to jail—and lose Charlotte. (Synopsis courtesy of Goodreads.)

Intersections is told in an honest way. I love the direct, open dialogue that happens between characters, particularly Charlotte and Ed. They form a unique friendship that isn’t conventional and not accepted by their inner circle, but despite what others think, they still pursue the friendship because they need to rely and depend on one another. Charlotte feels as though she has no one else in her corner, and Ed feels misunderstood. 

The dynamic between Charlotte and her daughter Libby is heartbreaking to read. Charlotte tries incessantly to do all she can to help Libby, but given Libby’s mental health struggles, the help feels far outside the realm of truth and reality for her. It doesn’t help that Charlotte’s ex– Libby’s father–isn’t much of a presence or support. Often, Charlotte takes on everything, but at a huge detriment to herself. 

The hit-and-run site, despite its dark beginnings, becomes a type of sanctuary and meeting ground for Charlotte and Ed. There, they both work towards a common goal of solving the hit-and-run, even with Charlotte already suspecting that her daughter might have been the culprit. There are deep conversations that take root there, too, allowing Charlotte a means of dealing with her grief over her broken home and the impending birth of a child she carries who has no real safe paternal lineage, while trying to work through the tough relationship she has with Libby.

For Ed, the talks he has with Charlotte remind him that there is life beyond the police force, even while dealing with the loss of his partner. There is a lot of change and transition happening in his world, too, and he feels lost and desperate at times. There were a lot of interesting scenarios that I don’t often get to read about, like parental surrogacy, and it was told from a very real perspective. In the end, I hoped for the best for everyone involved, even Libby, who could be difficult to understand and relate to. I love reading about unconventional friendships and really, familial structures that don’t meet the one-size-fits-all standard, and I felt Intersections really gave insight into both subjects and it was written well. It was a definite five-star experience!    

Thanks to Books Forward for the book in exchange for an honest review.

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